Hraunfoss and Barnafoss

A quick photo stop in Reykholt led us to Hraunfossar (Lava Falls), where the water magically pours from the side of a cliff along a front about 1/8 of a mile wide. It is remarkable in that the water seems to come from nowhere. There is not a river or stream that feeds it. The falls simply comes from groundwater trickling through volcanic basalt. Walking upstream a few hundred meters led us to Barnafoss (Children’s Falls). This torrent pours into a basin about the size of a city block, and is the most turbulent pool I have ever seen. According to tradition, two children tried to cross the river and were drowned. Their mother put a magic spell on the pool so that no one else would ever try to cross the river there again. We saw a German tourist who had climbed over the barriers and walked out on the rocks right over the dangerous falls to take photos. We were astounded at his disregard for his own safety. Had he fallen into the frigid waters, there would have been no way to save him.Read more